Upcycled Cowboy Boot Purse — Made From Your Own Boots

Rachel made the first one of these for herself — a crossbody purse hand-tooled from the upper of a well-worn cowboy boot. She didn't set out to start a business. But once people saw it on her arm, they started asking her to make one for them too.

One woman saw the purse and teared up. Her father had recently passed, and his old boots had been sitting in the corner of her kitchen ever since — she couldn't bear to throw them away, but didn't know what else to do with them. Rachel made her a purse. Another customer wears through a couple of pairs of boots a year and now sends Rachel the old ones each time, turning them into gifts for the friends and family who mean the most to her.

Each purse is one of a kind, handcrafted by Sonoita Leather Company in Arizona's ranch and wine country. The original boot's hand-tooled leather, natural patina, and character marks carry through into the finished piece, with hand-laced side seams, soft leather fringe, and a long braided leather crossbody strap finished with hand-tied knots.

Ordering the boot purse (this listing): This is a custom, made-to-order piece — every purse starts with your boots, so a little planning goes into each one before we begin. When you place your order, use the fields below to upload a photo of the boots and tell us their story — we love hearing why this felt like the right way to give them new life. Once your order is confirmed, we'll email you a prepaid shipping label to send your boots to our workshop. When your one-of-a-kind piece is complete, we'll ship it back to you.

Ordering something other than a purse (phone holder, glasses case, knife sheath, or another keepsake): These items are custom quotes, priced based on the boots you send in, your intended use case, and any optional design or functional details you'd like us to try to achieve. To start one of these orders: choose the product type you'd like below, describe how you plan to use it (for example, "case for an iPhone 17" or "case for keys, ID, and a couple of credit cards"), and upload a photo of the boots you'd like us to use. Because these are one-off builds, pricing for custom orders varies but generally falls in the $75–$105 range depending on complexity. Placing the order doesn't charge you right away and doesn't lock in a final price — it puts your project into our confirmed production queue, and we'll follow up with a firm price and design details within seven days of receiving your boots. Nothing is final, and no payment is due, until you've reviewed and approved both the finished design and the price.

This is also a beautiful way to preserve a child's first pair of cowboy boots — the same custom-quote process above applies to children's boots.

• Handcrafted in Arizona by Sonoita Leather Company
• Made to order from your own boots — a truly personal, upcycled keepsake
• Hand-tooled leather detailing with hand-laced side seams and fringe
• Long braided leather crossbody strap with hand-tied knots (boot purse only)
• One-of-a-kind piece — color, tooling, and patina vary based on the boots you send
• Also available as keepsakes: cell phone holders, key/ID/card cases, knife sheaths, or glasses cases — custom-quoted, typically $75–$105
• We'll email you a prepaid shipping label once your order and photo are received
• Custom (non-purse) orders: no charge and no final price until you approve the finished design — we'll respond within 7 days of receiving your boots

Questions

Do I have to send my own boots?

Yes. Every piece is made from the boots you send in — that is the whole idea. Once your order is confirmed we email you a prepaid shipping label for sending them to the workshop.

What condition do the boots need to be in?

Worn is fine, and usually better. What matters is the leather of the upper. Upload a photo when you order and Rachel will tell you whether there is enough usable material.

How long does it take?

Each purse is made one at a time and starts only after your boots arrive. For custom pieces other than the purse, we follow up with a firm price and design details within seven days of receiving the boots.

What if I want something other than a purse?

Phone holders, glasses cases, knife sheaths and other keepsakes are quoted individually, generally in the $75 to $105 range depending on complexity. Choose the product type, describe how you will use it, and upload a photo of the boots.

When am I charged?

Placing a custom order does not charge you right away and does not lock in a price. Nothing is final, and no payment is due, until you have approved both the finished design and the price.

Will it look like the photographs?

It will share the construction — hand-laced side seams, leather fringe, a braided crossbody strap with hand-tied knots — but the leather, tooling and patina come from your boots, so the finished piece is one of a kind.

Who makes them?

Rachel at Sonoita Leather Company, in Arizona's ranch and wine country.